Teaching + Learning (T+L) And Fundamentals Of Physical Therapy (PT) Practice Test

Reflection in action means thinking about and adjusting what you’re doing while you’re actually performing it. In physical therapy, this lets you respond to real-time cues from the patient—how they move, where they feel discomfort, their level of effort—and change your technique, speed, or chosen exercise right there in the moment. That real-time adjustment is what happens during the activity, not before or after. For contrast, reflecting after the session (reflection on action) involves analyzing what happened later to learn for the future, while planning or preparing before the activity is about setting up how you’ll approach it. An example is noticing during a transfer that the patient’s balance is unstable and immediately modifying your grip and pace to ensure safety, rather than waiting to review the session afterward.